Johnson (Samuel)

Johnson (Samuel) A Dictionary of the English Language,first edition, titles in red and black, vol. I C2 tear slightly affecting a few words on 9 lines of preface, 7K1 corner torn and repaired, 9C2 corner creased, 10 O2 & 12H1 pp. creased, vol. II title laid down, title and all to 20S2 & 30Z2 to end slight worming mostly in margins, 19P2 tear in lower margin, 19Q2 small hole slightly affecting text, 23C1 & 26M1 pp. creased, 31A2 tear in lower margin, some water-staining on various ff. mostly in margins, some scattered foxing and browning, some ink annotations in a 19th century hand, new endpapers, contemporary calf (not uniform), blind-tooled borders, rubbed and slightly scratched, corners and edges worn, rebacked, [Courtney & Smith pp. 54-55; PMM 201], folio, by W. Strahan, for J. and P. Knapton, T. and T. Longman, C. Hitch and others, 1755.

***The first significant attempt to codify English words. "Dr Johnson performed with his Dictionary the most amazing, enduring and endearing one-man feat in the field of lexicography." - PMM..